Disclaimer: I don't own BeyBlade or anything BeyBlade related. I do however own the crazy people that they are arranged to marry as well as Mr. Uzi and Mr. Doan and the other council members.

Thanks for Reviews from: Bluestray, Deep Zero X23 and Diligodia. Hope your stories go as well as mine did!

Chapter 4: The Party and the Law

"Ahhhh!" Mariah screams at 8:00. She runs out of the room and Kai, Lee, Kevin, Gary, and Tyson run to the hallway. She holds up 4 pieces of paper in front of them.

"Mariah, that's you marriage certificate. It's not signed to Zackary anymore." Lee said reading over the paper. "That one is Ray's and that's his paper saying your sentences and the last one is the paper saying when your state has to be checked again."

"You know what that means…" Kevin started to be interrupted by someone.

"I'm here." They all turn around to find Ray standing behind the group. "You'd all seem as though I'm a ghost." Mariah ran up to Ray and was crying so happy was she, she was chocking Ray.

"Be careful Ray, she likes you so much she's going to kill you to repay you for helping her so much." Kai said sarcastically and walked off. "Tyson, let's go this means that Max and Miriam are back so we can leave." Mariah turns around blushes and sticks out her tongue and the laugh.

"Kai, Tyson, you can't leave before the party." Tyson was so excited and the others looked at her. "Hey I can be happy for me and Ray can't I. We're safe from those crazy people and I can stay with you guys and be happy." Kevin and Lee kind of smiled but deeply they weren't so they'd still have to leave her and Ray on their 16th birthdays in a few months.

"Come on Kai, can't we stay for the party?" It was Max begging Kai to stay. "I mean they invited us and it's not very nice to leave when they just got back."

"Fine, whatever Max. We'll stay but you two better not over stuff your faces with food." He pointed to Tyson and Max. The agreed crossing their fingers behind their backs.

"Okay, I'm going to cook you guys cake and pizza and whatever else you want. Sound good?" Ray grabbed her arm when she followed the others and pulled her back into his room. Mariah was going to cook all that food, wow.

"So Mariah, there are going to be some difficulties now. We have to check our laws to see if we can stay in the city after we're 16 and aren't married. You can't get married until you're at least 18 by the papers in there. I can't leave you until you get married so beyond that point. Everything's going to be a lot harder now. People aren't going to be as excepting of you as they were. You're going against their culture and customs." Ray had brought her down and he wouldn't leave her down.

"So we are going to have to leave soon. I really don't feel like leaving everyone, Ray; isn't there anyway around this, Ray." He shook his head.

"Sorry Mariah, they found you unfit to be a wife for now so you'll have to wait until you are. They said your body couldn't have handled the pressure anyway. There is a lot of good news. No matter what happens I won't and can't leave you. You know that paper; it sentences that I for defending you that I am in charge to protect you and help you through everything." Mariah hugged Ray.

"Ray thank you for helping me. I'm glad that your going to be with me for a long time. Ray will you help me make all this food. We're going to have to make 3x as much as I normally do because I haven't eaten anything in the last few days and I'm really hungry." Ray smiled and they walked out and made food for everyone.

After the party, Kai, Tyson, Max and Miriam left for home for a nice time to relax from all the stress they had on their trip. Tyson and Kai had no stress but Max and Miriam had enough and it was time to go home.

Another month of their daily routine had made Mariah back to her normal, happy, cheerful, possible wife person. According to the form Mariah couldn't get married under any law at all for another 2 years. She could relax free from marriage and problems with relationships. There were only a few more problems to attend to. Mariah had to take a lot of physical examinations to check her health. They both would be given a check over of the rules in 2 days to see what their punishments would be if one at all. They hoped there wouldn't be any but that was residing on false hope. They had broken many laws, customs and had ultimately caused shame to themselves so it was fitting that they should be punished.

"Ray, how bad do you think the punishment is going to be? Promise that they wouldn't take me away from Kevin, Lee, and Gary, Ray." Mariah eyes showed her worried ness of a horribly sad punishment. The others nodded for Ray to tell her the truth.

"Mariah, I can't promise you that exactly. Kevin, Gary and Lee gave to go to their wives and stay with them. You'll see them again no matter what happens, I'll promise you that. I'll also promise that no matter what they sentence you to they wouldn't take you away from me. Even if that's the sentence I'll stop it, I promise." Mariah nodded. She understood what could happen. She feared she'd have to go against her people but if that meant staying with Ray and living happily that it was worth it.

The walk into court Mariah didn't look happy and had a tight grip on Ray. "Ray, promise that everything is going to be okay. Stay by my side, please." He nodded and kept by her side the entire way up to the post. The council was missing 2 of the members of the trial. The two were Mariah and Ray who were on trial.

"So Ray, do you have the papers that the Lintec tribe gave you." Ray handed the papers up to the council chief. "So the paper says that you two can't get married for another 2 years, correct." Ray nodded. Mariah stood behind him very scared and worried.

"So about how many laws would you say you broke Ray and Mariah?" Another man stood up and looked at them.

"I would say we broke together about 10 rules. I mean they listed 8 on the paper for me alone and Mariah only broke about two and that's 2 so that's how many I'd say." Mariah nodded constantly as Ray said something.

"Mariah, is there something wrong? Do you need to sit down?" Mariah shook her head and Ray looked at her. "Mariah wouldn't you like to say anything in your own defense today."

"Your honors, may I talk to Mariah outside for a second?" The chief nodded. "Come on Mariah." Ray took Mariah's hand and led her out.

"Ray, I'm just nervous. I don't want to say anything that might make them try to take me away from you. I wouldn't want to do anything to endanger us from staying together. If you say everything I can't mess it up." Mariah said calmly looking at the sky.

"If you don't say something they'll think I did this for the wrong reasons and change this all back. You and I both don't want that so let's stick to the plan and tell the truth and if worse comes to worse than we'll just run away from everyone, okay. Just try to make it legal for us to stay together. Promise me that Mariah." Mariah nodded and they both walked into the court room.

"Okay your honor, I am ready to respond to questions." Mariah stood up on the post and promised to tell the truth and she stood up ready to reply to questions.

"Mariah, is it true that you are very weak and unable to do many large tasks around the house?"

"Yes, I can only do small things around the house like laundry, dishes and cooking on some occasions. On most Ray takes over with the big things." Mariah responded.

"Mariah is it true that you didn't like Zackary and he was treating you like a prize and without human feelings and emotions. Others say he treated you like a doll to use and through away after you broke." Mariah started to cry but pushed to continue.

"Yes, he did. I was tool for him to use to do everything for him, take care of him, raise his children and torture me to death. He had no respect for me as a person and he didn't care how I felt about this." Mariah quoted and smiled at Ray. "Ray met him when he was down there."

"That is fine Mariah. Ray up to the post. So Zackary didn't like Mariah so why did he agree to the marriage with her. Who is he marrying now, does he have any relation to her. Treat her fair?" Ray went to the post.

"Zackary just used her as a tool. He is marrying Guan of his tribe now. They were friends she is stronger and able to do all the things he asked of her. I was supposed to marry her but they couldn't leave Mariah defenseless so they made me take care of her." Ray said and they looked all nodding and agreeing to his statements.

'Okay Ray we will come back tommarow and return. Mariah, get some rest you're weak and way beyond stressed." The left and Mariah just fell to the floor and cried. Ray carried her home so she could rest and cry within the comforts of his home and with him there and no others.

Ray walked into the other room to talk with Lee and Kevin. Gary had headed to bed already and Ray had only a small time before the hearing tomorrow. "Hey Lee, I know you're on the council but as a friend can you name a few of the worst things that could happen to me and Mariah? I just want to know how to react if worst comes to worst."

"Ray there is no telling what the punishment could be. It could come down to you and her being separated, her being sent to a health renewal camp grounds, you, her or both of you being banished, or just simply community service. Even the council has no clue what your punishment should be. I know that in my opinion you don't deserve any punishement." Kevin said stretching out on the couch.

"Kevin's right, what you and Mariah need to show to them is three things: One, how badly Zackary was treating Mariah. The second is the connection and protection you have with Mariah. The third is that what you did was against the law but you did it for a noble and honest purpose and those things should lighten your sentence if you have one at all. I'd prepare a statement for tomorrow." Lee and Kevin walked off.

Ray sat down at the desk in his room and prepared a statement for the Council at tomorrow's hearing. He scribbled down the things Lee had advised him to add and write. Ray felt that anything anyone said to help them he would use if only he had some more evidence about what Zackary did to Mariah to upset her so much by talking to him. He knew she wrote it down somewhere and he knew it would help him. He would remember to ask her to bring the things she wrote down with her tomorrow.

Ray thought and after 10 minutes he had finally had the perfect statement. It went like this:

Mariah Kito has been through a lot in her life. She has been through many dangerous times when our tribe was in danger and has been hurt a lot. She now faces a different type of pain as well as physical pain; she faces emotional pain. Mariah is still considerably very naïve to be an adult and take care of a family. I think that maybe in a year or two she will be ready but not know. She has come to face a lot of physical damage to her body and is weakened very easily. Lee and I have been taking care of her the whole time. Lee knows that if either of us would be gone from her she would feel insecure and alone. We have always been there for her and this is just another thing I must help her get through. I don't want to hurt her anymore. I know as the team leader Lee must marry and unite the tribes of Lintec and The White Tigers but Mariah can't face this hardship. Mariah can barely handle daily tasks with Lee, Kevin, and me, helping her along. She couldn't stand it if we were taken away for her and she had to do everything on her own as well as take care of his children. Her body can't stand that much pressure. I know that we both have duties to for fill but we both just need more time to develop these habits. I need to be by Mariah's side and help her out because Lee can't be with Wendi and Mariah at the same time but I must go against my marriage as I did and help Mariah who can't marry Zackary anymore. This is my statement.

Ray felt this statement was honest, helpful and defensive against anyone who would try to deny them the right to be together. Deep in his mind he knew what they might do to them and one thing in particular stood out to him but he couldn't let that happen. It was good, fair and honest but she still couldn't handle it and he wouldn't let anything at all happen to her.

Ray went to sleep holding the statement in his hand and then awoke to the sound of breakfast. Mariah had woken up early and gotten and early start. He walked into the kitchen and no one but a lady was there in the kitchen. She handed Ray a paper from the council.

Dear Ray,

The council wanted to see me for something this morning. I went with them so that I could try to help. Promise me that you'll help me in anyway you can. I'll try to keep us together too but I don't think I'll help much. I can't stand facing the fact that we might be separated. It scares me. Do whatever you need to. I asked our neighbor to make breakfast for you and the others so you would get fed. See you at the Council Building.

Love, Mariah

Ray knew something that he needed that would help him prove how horrible that Zackary was to Mariah; Mariah's Diary. He looked in her room and found it in her desk. On a normal occasion he wouldn't dare try to read it or go in her room when she's not in there but this was no normal day. They were on trial and she told him to do anything to help and this would make a difference in court.

Mariah's Point of Position- Mariah's Diary Entry

Festival of the Setting Sun

Ray still hasn't returned. I guess that he won't be showing up for a few months and maybe a year or two. I still have hope that he'll show up here in another few days. I'll never lose hope though I have snapped out of my down loss. I wish he wouldn't have left but that won't change the fact he did. I'm sad but maybe this festival will keep my mind off. I'm kind of excited for everyone and scared for me. The festival is for those who are turning 16 in this next coming year. I am included in this bunch of people.

The big problem is that this festival is also celebrating your entry into adulthood. There isn't anything wrong with that but this means you have to get married on the first one of the couple's birthdays. I don't want to. I can't leave my team, have a child in a few years, take care of someone else. I also won't allow myself to get married to someone who I don't love and they don't love me. Kevin, Lee and Gary are in the tent with Mr. Doan and the council of the Lintec Tribe. I hope something happens to stop this.

Ray stopped reading, he couldn't read this. This book explained her! This was her lying on a bed of false hope, dangerous chances, sadness and fear. He couldn't read this through the eyes of Mariah. She had been through so much; Ray leaving, the marriage, the tournaments gone wrong, the trouble and Zackary. She had so many good things and your first impression of her was this cheerful, strong hearted girl. A tiger was what she was. Tigers act strong on the outside but in the inside they fear that they will be captured or hunted or killed. It was life and he couldn't see her through her own eyes. He knew about how she felt but only slightly into it not this deep. He skipped up to the meeting with Zackary to see what he had planned for Mariah.

House Meeting with Zackary

Zackary seemed nice enough. He was the main protector of the tribe like Ray. He couldn't be that bad. I haven't ever talked to him, yet. The house meeting is where I go to his house and talk to him about our marriage. I don't love him and the truth is that I hope someone stops this but if worse comes to worse than I'll have to deal with him and knowing what he expects will help. I hope he's nice to me.

Well all theories about him are wrong he's the most grotesque, dirty, evil, mean person in the world. He has horribly high expectations of me. I mean he wants 6 children and me to do everything. He wants me to do the laundry, clean, cook, take care of his children and do everything else while sits around all the time. He doesn't care what I think about it, how I feel, my opinions don't matter. It's so sad, I can't handle this. I'm like a pet to him that he doesn't have to care for. I'm like a slave in my own family. He's horrible, I need someone to save me. He expects me to have all those childrens, look at my best, raise healthy. I mean the inappropriate comments he made about my body were so wrong. He likes to stare at me like we're married and I don't plan on it, ever. I need someone's help. Someone save me from this nightmare of a life. I can't ever be near him again. I don't care what I have to do to stay away from him but I can't be here.

Ray just wanted to go wherever Mariah was now and save her. She was safe now. The problem was she could still be setup with him. He'd save her and he promised to. She had to go through all that. Why didn't she tell Lee or Kevin, they were right there in the same area? Why did she act so happy and punctual when you talked to her and she felt so much pain and sorrow in real life? Has she ever told anyone about this? Ray went and walked into the kitchen with Mariah's diary in hand.

"Lee, Kevin, has Mariah ever told you the exact things Zackary did to her during the house meeting? I need to know if she's holding this all inside or she just didn't want to bother me with this." Lee and Kevin nodded.

"Ray, Mariah mentioned this all to us when we came back home. She was in tears and at first we thought it was that you weren't here when she returned but later she stopped. We knew that she'd go on if it was about you. Something else was bothering her. We asked her after a few days and she told us." Lee said, holding his face tight trying not to show the concern that overwhelmed him at the moment.

"She said that he was like insane with his expectations, the children and her jobs. She said that he wanted a kid as soon as they were married and he looked at her in inappropriate ways and it scared her and she wouldn't leave her room for weeks." Kevin said. He showed his concern by jumping out of his seat and pounding on the table.

"So she did tell you, but why didn't she say anything to anyone else. I mean they would have arrested him or something. If she did, he'd be arrested and she'd be safe any get someone else to pick. Why wouldn't she?" Kevin and Lee looked at her. Gary got up and started eating.

Lee stood up very calmly. "Ray, she is the only female council member and it was honorable to marry her. She was part of the peace offering to the Lintec tribe as my marriage to Wendi. Mariah plays an important in the peace agreement and she decided that was right for the tribe. She'd never go against the tribe if it meant just her feelings; you weren't here to make sure that she let out her feelings. The only reason she is going on trial now is because she loves you and she feels that she could show her emotions and be happy in her heart and be with you. She's doing this for you a lot more than herself." Lee walked into his bedroom with his breakfast.

"Mariah needs you to show her how important she is by being herself. When you left she felt unimportant and meaningless. No one attempted to make part of their normal schedule to help her with how she felt. We tried when it upset her but you did it because. You loved her. She needs that, it gives her feelings of happiness. She's happy and she'd defend that go against the whole world if it meant she could be with you and you and her would be happy." Kevin went to his room and Ray went into his.

Mariah, why do you hide your emotions? We all care about you. I love you, I want you to be happy and no matter what happens I'll teach you how important you are to me and save you from anyone who goes against us. You are the tiger who shows his powers to protect it from danger but since you're really weak we see through it but I'm the tiger who will help you through it. Ray laid in his bed and looked at Mariah's diary. This was a book of Mariah's true feeling about everything, everyone and how she felt underneath that strong tiger costume.

Review are awesome I have 4 and that's fair. I hope this new chapter makes a change on you're reviews. I've been doing a chapter a day which is very hard while I'm constantly IMing my best friend. He and I usually talk about what you say in your review so help me think of new topics for the sequel. I need help for ideas. I'll tweak them and use them. Don't be mean and break up the BeyBlade relationships because it's not nice. Please review and thank you for all your reviews so far. This is a pretty long chapter but it took me a long time. I did it in between my online conversations with my friend.

I'd love it if you sent me a review. I enjoy reading them, they make me happy. I enjoy your opinions and good luck to those who are writing Mariah fan fics too. Marina